Spine-arch support.



E. PACKER.

SPINE ARCH SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED 0618.1915.

nu l 9 1l 7H m M d e ITU D. AU t na P THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH lC0., WASHINGTON. D. C.

FFIQE" ELIJAH PACKER, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SEINE-ARCH SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Mar. '"Z, 19t@ Application filed ctober 8, 1915. Serial No. 54,771.

the arch of the spine so as to support the.

human body from the small of the baclr to a point just above the waistline and thereby give support to the curvature of the spine, whereby a person will stand erect with greater ease, walk with more comfort, sit

Y straight and breathe more deeply.

The invention has for its general objects to provide a support of novel. form which is easy to apply and hold in proper position, and is of light weight so as not to unduly encumber the person.

With such objects in view, and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement ofV parts which will be set forth with particularity in the following description and claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying` drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device shown applied; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device detached; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; and Fig. i is a detail sectional view on the line 4.--4, Fig. 2.

In the present instance the invention is shown applied to a mans back, but it is to he understood that the device is intended to be used by women and children for the purpose of giving the proper support to the back without putting any strain on any other part of the body but assisting in supporting the weight of the upper part of the body and relieving the lower portion of strain, while at the same time giving the spine the natural curvature it should have.

Referring to the drawing, A designates y the support and B the belt by which it is held in place. The support comprises a plate 1 which is a few inches wide and of such length vertically as to extend from the small of the back to a point slightly above the waistso as to embrace or overlie a few of the vertebrae. This plate l is resilient so Ythat it can bend out of its flat condition when the belt is tightened.

2 is a iexible plate of the same shape as but slightly smaller than the plate l, so that the peripheral edge of the latter can be curled or rolled over the edge of the second plate. The plates may be covered with any suitable material, if suoli is desired, for adding to the appearance of the device or the comfort of the wearer. At the medial por tion ofthe supporter and extending rearwardly from the rear plate 2 are belt loops 3 formed by vertical straps which are adapted to extend through openings l in the waist portion of the garment 5. The lower part of the supporter is adapted to be inserted under the waist of the skirt or trousers, while the upper part protrudes, but it is to be understood that the supporter can be. worn under theshirt or shirtwaist, and

the loops 3 will extend through openings in the shirt or shirtwaist and also in the trousers or skirt, so that the belt B can be passed through the loops 3. To increase the tension of the resilient plates leaf springs 6 are diagonally arranged on the rear plate 2, the outer ends of the springs being riveted to the plate while the inner ends bear against the plate. The inner ends of the springs slide on the back surface of the plate 2 as the supporter is flexed. The inner ends have slots 7, and fasteners 8 on the plate 2 engage in the slots.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and operation will be readily understood b v those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best enibodiment thereof, I desire to have it under stood that the device shown "is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A spine arch support comprising a re silient plate normally flat and having leaf spring stiffeners disposed on the side of the plate opposite from that which bears on the body, each spring being fastened at one end to the plate and loosely bearing at its opposite end on the plate.

2. A spine arch .support comprising a resilient plate, leaf springs extending diagonally of the plate and having their outer ends rigidly secured thereto and their inner ends independently and inovably connected With the plate near the center, and beltreceiving loops secured to the saine side of the plate to which the leaf springs are con` nected. y

3. A spine arch support comprising a resilient platev narrowed horizontally and of such length vertically as to extend from the small of the back to a point slightly above the Waist line, ineans for fastening the support against the body of the wearer, whereby the support is arched to conform to the normal curvature of the spine, and leaf spring stieners diagonally arranged on the back of the plate, each spring having one end rigidly fastened to the plate and its opi posite end Yslidably bearing on the plate.

lThe combination ofV a spine arch support having a pair of parallel vertical rearwardly extending belt-engaging loops, a garinent having an opening at its waist portion for the loop to pass therethrough, and a belt for the garment passing through the loop to hold the support in place, said support being prevented from sliding longitudinally on the belt by the loops of the support extending through the openings in the gar" nient.

5. A support of the class described coniprising a resilient plate, a plurality of leaf springs fastened to the rear side of the plate and having their inner ends disposed adjacent the centerV of the plate and slidably fastened thereto, and vertically disposed belt-receiving loops fastened to the plate adjacent the middle thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of "-v' two subscribing Witnesses.

ELIJAH PACKER. Witnesses F. OBRI, JOSEPH MESMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C.

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